Project Catapult Rules Spring 2014 What is Tau Beta Pi and What Does it Represent? Tau Beta Pi is the National Engineering Honor Society. The members of Tau Beta Pi are not only the top students in their graduating class, but they also participate in community service activities. The Iowa Alpha Chapter at Iowa State University has been recognized nationally for the service projects that it has organized. The catapult competition was designed to reach out to high school students who have an interest in mathematics, physics and engineering. The competition gives students an opportunity to apply theory to a project that is both fun and challenging. 1. Quick Glimpse of the Challenge The object of the catapult competition is to promote engineering as an exciting field for young people, to provide a service to society, to encourage teamwork, and to assist in education outside of the classroom. The only source of power allowed for the catapult must come from a falling weight. This type of catapult is commonly referred to as a trebuchet - a sling on a pivoted arm set in motion by the fall of a weight. The catapult needs to be designed to launch raw eggs a minimum of 55 to 65 feet. The catapults should be designed and built by the teams. Each team is asked to provide a list of materials and the cost to construct their catapult and to use their creativity and imagination in its design. The competition field will be a roughly rectangular in shape. The teams will set up their catapult in a designated launch area and will launch the eggs at a bull s eye target on the opposite end of the field. Teams may select from one of three launch areas (55 65 feet from the target, 85-95 feet from the target or 115-125 feet from the target). The catapult range must be adjustable since each team may be shooting at the target from a different distance with in the launch area they choose. The exact distance to the target will not be known until the day of the event. Each team will get three practice shots and five scored shots. This field competition will count for 50 of the total 100 possible points. In addition to the catapult, a poster must be created. The poster should include calculations of predicted distances, documentation of the design process, and a list of materials used, among other things. The poster will count for 50 of the total 100 points available in the competition. The poster should be of reasonable quality, visually attractive and illustrate the groups understanding of the principles involved. The top three teams will receive awards. An extra benefit of the competition is its presence at VEISHEA, the largest and oldest student run celebration in the United States! This year, VEISHEA and the catapult competition will be held on April 12, 2014.
2.1 Teams 2. Rules of the Competition Teams will consist of a minimum of four students (recommend no more than eight) and one advisor. A student is someone who has not yet graduated from high school. An advisor may be a teacher, principal, parent, or guardian (anyone who is an adult and willing to take on the challenge and responsibility). 2.2 Field and Target Description The competition field will be a level, largely rectangular field. The target is an 8 x 8 platform inclined at a 45 o angle. The bull s eye will be in the center of the platform and be 4 in diameter (see Figure 1). The launching areas are described in section 2.4. 8 ft. 8 ft. 4 ft. Figure 1. Target The distance to the center of each launching area will be measured from the center of the bull s eye. There will be three launching areas for the teams to choose from: 60, 90, and 120 feet from the target (see Figure 2). 30 ft. 20 ft. 10 ft. 45 0 Launching Areas Target 0 ft. 60 ft. 90 ft. 120 ft. Figure 2. Competition Field
2.3 Launching Site 2.4 Eggs The launching sites will be rectangular areas that measure ten feet long by twenty feet wide. Each team will announce the launching area they wish to attempt at the time of the competition. A team member will then draw a random distance, zero to ten feet, out of a box and that distance will be measured from the front of the launching rectangle. All eggs will then be launched from this distance. The catapult s datum will be the most forward ground brace (see Section 3.8). As an example, a team may choose the 60-foot launching area. The random distance they draw from the hat will then place them anywhere from 55-65 feet from the target s bull s eye. Tau Beta Pi will supply all eggs used in the competition. They will be grade A large eggs. 2.5 Practice Shots Each team will be allowed a total of eight shots, three practice shots and five scored shots from the drawn distance. Teams must announce before each shot whether it will be a practice or scored shot. All shots must be carried out within the 30-minute time constraint. (See Section 2.7) 2.6 Scoring Shots Each team will have five scored shots. Points will be awarded for eggs that hit the 4 diameter bull s eye as well as shots that strike the 8 x 8 target platform outside the bull s eye or land within one of the three circles surrounding the target. The landing point of the egg will determine the score (i.e. rolling the egg onto the target does not count). The points awarded will also depend on which launching area the group has chosen (see Table 1). Table 1. Scoring Scheme 60 90 120 Bull s-eye 6 8 10 Inside 10 Circle 4 6 8 (Including Platform) Inside 20 Circle 2 3 4 Inside 30 Circle 1 2 3 Miss 0 0 0 To obtain the maximum score of 50 points, a group must choose the 120 launching area and strike the bull s eye with every attempt. Each group must therefore consider their catapult s ability and make an engineering decision on
which launching area to use. CAUTION: Historically, choosing a longer range has adversely affected accuracy. 2.7 Time Constraint From the time of the drawing, each team will only be allowed thirty minutes to place their catapult, launch all eight shots, and remove the catapult from the field. Catapults may be assembled before the thirty-minute countdown begins. 3.1 Initial Size 3.2 Energy 3. Construction Constraints The size of the catapult must be no greater than 4 x 6 x 3 when disassembled; in other words, it should fit inside a box of these dimensions. This will be tested by judges on competition day! On competition day, a team may bring its catapult disassembled for size testing and then put it together to form a final unit larger than the stated dimensions. While there is no weight constraint, teams should keep in mind that the catapult will need to be transported some distance over grass. The catapult should not be so massive that it requires a truck to move it even short distances. Teams should be able to move their catapult a minimum of ½ mile manually. Some of the roads through campus may be closed due to the VEISHEA parade or other activities, so plan accordingly! The only allowed means of providing energy to the catapult will be that of a falling mass. No springs may be used in the construction of the launching mechanism. 3.3 Materials Materials that may be used are any items that may be found at a typical lumberyard or hardware store. 3.4 Remote Triggering Device & safety Each catapult MUST be equipped with a remote triggering device and firing safety. (See Section 4.2) 3.5 Cost Constraint The total cost for the construction of the catapult should be less than $200.00 (see Section 5.6).
3.6 Broken Parts During the competition there might be times when parts will break. These parts may be replaced as long as the replacement materials were included in the initial measurement box. Tools do not have to be placed in the box. All repairs must be done within the thirty-minute time constraint. 3.7 Adjustability Teams will be allowed to make minor modifications and adjustments to their catapults with materials that were included in the initial measurement box. An important aspect of the catapult design is its ability to be adjusted in response to variable launch factors such as wind and distance to target. 3.8 Ground Anchors Each catapult must be fitted with four ground anchors. These should be steel stakes (make sure that you remember a means for extracting these stakes after the competition). The stakes should be placed to secure the corners of the catapult. 3.9 Machined Parts Ingenuity is desirable but excessive use of custom-machined parts, e.g. low friction bearing assemblies, should be avoided. The catapult should be constructed hand and power tools found in a typical school or home workshop. Metal parts are acceptable, but no welding or brazing is permitted. If there are questions regarding this requirement please feel free to contact us (see Section 8.2). 4.1 Supervision 4. Safety Supervision is required when constructing, testing, and transporting the catapult. Tau Beta Pi will not be responsible for injuries incurred during the construction, transportation, or operation of the catapults. BE SAFE!! 4.2 Remote Triggering Device & Firing safety Each catapult must have a remote triggering device. The catapults must be triggered from a minimum distance of ten feet to the side of the launch line. All group members must be outside this minimum distance at the time of firing, and no one should be in the firing line (in front or behind) the catapult. This minimum distance is required to ensure that no one is hit by the moving parts of the catapult or stray eggs. An example of a satisfactory remote triggering device would be a rope pull ten feet long that activates a launching device.
Catapults should also include a firing safety. The catapult should be unable to fire until the safety is released. The safety may be released within the ten-foot trigger limit. 4.3 Safety equipment All group members that actively participate in the launching of the catapult must wear a hard hat and safety glasses. Tau Beta Pi will have some available on the day of the competition, but groups may also bring their own safety gear. Be sure to utilize appropriate safety gear when building and testing your designs!! 4.4 Release and Waiver of Liability All members participating in the catapult event must sign and complete an Iowa State University Participation Agreement for the Tau Beta Pi Catapult Competition. Also, any participant under the age of 18 must have the signature of a parent or guardian on the agreement. ANYONE WITHOUT THESE FORMS SIGNED AND COMPLETED ON THE DAY OF COMPETITION WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO COMPETE IN THE CATAPULT COMPETITION. 5.1 General Requirements 5. Poster Each poster should be made on a 32 x 40 inch tag board. The poster should also be weather proofed either by lamination or covered with a clear garbage sack or plastic sack. 5.2 Visual Attraction The poster will be judged on overall visual attraction and professionalism of the poster. Each poster should contain a picture of the team s catapult. Additional pictures are welcome and encouraged. The poster should also include visual diagrams, including labeled diagrams of catapult designs, with dimensions. These drawings may be hand drawn, but computer generated drawings are encouraged. 5.3 Design Process The poster should include a section on the documentation of the design process. This process could include brainstorming and any research that the team carried out. Assume that the intended audience is not knowledgeable in catapult theory. 5.4 Calculations
The poster should also include a section of basic calculations. These calculations should show estimates of how far the egg will shoot with various catapult settings. Clearly show how and why the design of the catapult was selected. Calculations should be organized and easy to follow. 5.5 Adjustability The poster should also include a section on adjustability of the catapult. Specify how the catapult is adjustable and how adjusting it will affect predicted launch distances. Include any results from tests performed. 5.6 Prices & Resources All materials used to create the catapult should be documented. All materials that are purchased must be recorded with the purchased price. Any donated materials, items found in students garages, and so on must be recorded separately and given an estimated retail value, which will count toward the total cost of the project. The total cost should be no greater than $200.00! All resources must also be documented. Any books, movies, websites, or people consulted should be referenced appropriately. A table of resources is encouraged. 5.7 Submittal Posters must be finished and ready to display on the day of the Catapult Competition. Questions about the poster may be submitted by e-mail to tbpprojects@iastate.edu. 5.8 Scoring of the Poster The poster will be scored out of a possible 50 points. The judges of the posters will be Iowa State University Engineering faculty and/or Tau Beta Pi members. The breakdown of scoring is as follows: Overall Visual Attraction and Professionalism 15 Design Process 10 Diagrams 10 Calculations 5 Price List 5 Description of Adjustability 5 Total poster point value 50
6. Check in and Inspection process 6.1 Check in The competition will occur on Saturday, April 12, 2014. All teams should plan on arriving between 9:00 am and 10:30 am to check in with the Tau Beta Pi judges. If you need to arrive earlier, contact us and special arrangements will be made for dropping catapults off before 9:00 am (see Section 8.2). Posters will be displaced when the teams arrive in the morning, and must be finished by noon. Iowa State University Release and Waiver of Liability and Medical Information/Release forms will be collected at this time (section 4.4). ANYONE WITHOUT THESE FORMS SIGNED AND COMPLETED WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO COMPETE. Teams will be allowed to leave their catapults at the competition field during the morning, where they will be watched by Tau Beta Pi members while team participants can enjoy some of the other VEISHEA highlights. Teams should be back at the competition site preparing to set up by approximately 12:00 noon Competition will begin at 12:30pm. 6.2 Inspection Process Tau Beta Pi members will check the team s poster and inspect the catapults for operation of the remote triggering device, and firing safety before the start of competition. Teams may be asked to demonstrate that their catapult fits in the required volume (3.1). 6.3 Penalties and Bonuses Points will be deducted from any team for the following rule violations: Exceeds volume constraint (3.1) -5 Exceeds cost constraint (5.5) $0-$50, -5; $51-$100, -10; etc. Safety violations (4) -10/violation Removing protective gear Lack of remote trigger Lack of ground anchors, etc. Time violation -5 All other infractions will be determined by judges. Up to five bonus points may be awarded to any team that incorporates a creative theme into their catapult. These may include, but are not limited to: painting schemes, costumes, short skits, or incorporating the VEISHEA theme.
7. Selection of the Winners 7.1 Winners 7.2 Awards The winning teams are the teams with the most points at the end of the competition. There are a total of 100 points possible, 50 points from the poster and 50 from the field competition. Winners will be announced following the completion of the competition. First through third place will receive special recognition. All team will receive a participation award. 8.1 Entry Form & Fee 8. Administrative Notes To enter the competition, the On-line Entry Form on the Iowa Alpha website: http://iowaalpha.tbp.org/projects/catapult must be completed. There is no cost to enter the competition. Team members and adults can order T-shirts for $10.00 each. The registration deadline is Tuesday, April 1, 2014. For those wanting T- shirts registration should also be completed by April 1, 2014. Please make checks payable to: Tau Beta Pi Mail payment to: Tau Beta Pi - Catapult Competition 110 Marston Iowa State University Ames, IA. 50011 8.2 Contacts E-mail enquires should be made to: tbp-projects@iastate.edu 8.3 Web Page The Iowa Alpha website http://iowaalpha.tbp.org/projects/catapult will be used to distribute information to all teams participating in the contest. Check it regularly for updates, rules clarifications, and responses to teams questions. 8.4 Weather If the weather turns extremely nasty on the day of the competition, there is the possibility for cancellation. In the morning, check the website for information, or if necessary call the Iowa Alpha Chief Advisor, LeVern Faidley at 515-450-1107. If the weather does force a cancellation, the competition will most likely be
rescheduled for the following Saturday, April 27th, with details posted on the website. 8.5 List of Ames Hotels AmericInn Motel & Suites Comfort Inn 2507 SE 16 th St. 1605 S. Dayton Ave. Ames, IA. 50010 Ames, IA. 50010 (515) 233-1005 (515) 233-0689 Hampton Inn Heartland Inn 1400 S. Dayton Ave. I-35 & New Highway 30 Ames, IA. 50010 Ames, IA. 50010 (515) 239-9999 (515) 233-6060 Ramada Inn Super 8 Motel 1206 S. Duff Ave. I-35 and US 30 Ames, IA. 50010 Ames, IA. 50010 (515) 232-3410 (515) 232-6510 University Inn 229 S. Duff Ave. Ames, IA 50010 (515) 232-0280